Toy



April 12, 1932 G. E JOHNSON TOY Fild- July 20, 1931 E. Johns-0n 3mm Moi/"@130.

Patented Apr. 12, 19 32 UNITED STATES GLADWIN' E. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS TOY Application filed July 20,

This invention relates to a toy, one of the objects being to provide a simple and inexpensive device utilizing a projectile supported for movement against gravity along a curved path, a propelling element being employed for actuating the projectile in an effort to bring it to a dead center between its limits of movement.

A further object is to provide a device of this character requiring extreme skill to obtain the desired result, thereby providing considerable entertainment for the users.

vVith the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the device.

Figure 2 is a similar view of another form.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a base in which are anchored the ends of a stifi wire 2 forming a guide. The wire has its upper portion curved to provide a loop which can be substantially oval as indicated at 3.

A staple 4 is extended from base 1 and provides a bearing for ears5 extending froma lever 6 near the center thereof. This lever constitutes a propelling element and one end has slots 7 extending thereinto for the reception of the respective end portions. of wire 2. The other end of the lever constitutes a finger piece. A ball 8 or other projectileis loosely mounted on guide 2 and normally rests on the slotted end of lever 6 so as to hold the other end or finger piece normally elevated above base 1, as in Figure 1.

In practice the elevated end of the lever is pushed down abruptly and the device thereby acts as a catapult to throwthe pro- 1931. Serial No. 552,015.

jectile upwardly along the guide 2. When the proper force is exerted the projectile will be shifted to the highest point on the guide,

.which is the dead center, and there remain stationary. This is the result desired in playing with the toy. If the exerted force is too great or too small the projectile will pass by the dead center or else fail to reach it and in either event it will return by gravity to the slottedend of the propelling lever.

Instead of using a lever for actuating the projectile a spring strip 9 can be attached at one end of the base 10, as in Figure 2, and the other end can be normally raised. An intermediate portion can be slotted at 11 to receive the end portions of the looped guide 12 and to support the projectile 12. By depressing the free end of the spring and then releasing it the projectile will be propelled along the guide.

What is claimed is V 1. A toy including a base, an upstanding guide loop fixed thereon, a projectile slidable along the loop, and a propelling element movable relative to the base for supporting 75 the projectile when at either side of the loop.

2. A toy including a base, an upstanding guide loop fixed thereon, a projectile slidable along the loop, and a propelling element movable relative to the base for supporting the projectile when at either side of the loop, said element including a lever having slots in one end for receiving opposed sides of the loop.

3. A toy including a base, an upstanding guide loop fixed thereon, a projectile slidable along the loop, and a propelling element movable relative to the base for supporting the projectile when at either side of the loop,

said element including a spring fixed at one end and free to flex at its other end, there being slots in the spring through which opposed portions of the loop extend.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

GLADWIN E. JOHNSON. 

